The police in China solved bout 1.8 million criminal cases last
year, or 41.8 percent of the 4.9 million that were filed. However,
Assistant Minister of Public Security Zhang Xinfeng said,
"Considering some criminal cases could not be filed properly or on
time, China's criminal case resolution rate last year was only
around 30 percent."
Zhang was speaking at a video teleconference held to mobilize
the police nationwide to improve their ability to handle criminal
cases.
"Although some achievements have been scored in safeguarding
social stability and ensuring people a peaceful life, it should be
soberly noticed that a gap exists between people's high
expectations and police performance in dealing with criminal
cases," said Zhang.
In addition to the low resolution rate, there are also problems
such as known suspects remaining at large, brutal treatment of
suspects and unlawful extension of incarceration. Some police
officers even collaborated with criminals, said Zhang.
Last year, 39 Chinese police officers lost their lives and 2,676
were injured in the line of duty. "Their loyalty to the people and
profession should be cherished, but the large number of deaths and
injuries is partially attributable to the poor physical condition
and slack exercise programs of the police," said Zhang.
The Ministry of Public Security conducted physical fitness
examinations of 394 police officers in provinces and municipalities
of Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jilin, Liaoning and Tianjin last year.
Seventy percent failed to meet the ministry's fitness
standards.
The ministry also randomly picked 400 front-line officers to
have physical examinations last year. It found that 30 percent of
them suffered cardiovascular disease, 40 percent had high blood
pressure, or hyperlipemia; 30 percent were afflicted with
gastroenteric disease; and 16 percent had hepatitis.
Crime scene investigation skills were also weak, said Zhang. He
said that investigators successfully obtained suspect fingerprints
in less than 10 percent of the last year's criminal cases.
In a bid to improve physical and investigative fitness, the
Ministry of Public Security has launched an intensive nationwide
training course. Later this year, the ministry will dispatch
several traveling inspection teams to check the results of
training.
(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2004)